Page 102 of Compelled Obedience

“My God. What happened to you? Who are you? You’re not the man I fell in love with. I was so stupid, fucking pretending like I cared about Grant. Well, do you want to know the truth? I did. He was a good guy, not the asshole you’ve become. I’m leaving.”

When Elizabeth backed away, he snapped his hand around her arm, jerking her against him. “Like hell you are. Listen up, Lizzie. You knew exactly what you were getting yourself into. You’re deep into this and if you think I’m going to allow you to walk out that door, you’re out of your mind.”

“Are you threatening me?” she demanded.

I moved, realizing that the ropes holding my arms in place weren’t as tight as I thought they were. Every muscle ached but I continued pulling, refusing to remain the victim.

“This was supposed to be about your brother, not about money. I only agreed to help you because you said you cared about your brother. Then you go and hunt down that asshole. You lured him out of his hiding place with the money. Then you killed him. I thought you were going to turn him in.” She struggled to get out of his hold.

When he cracked his hand across her face, I was forced to bite back a moan. What the hell was going on? As they fought, I twisted my fisted hands back and forth, ignoring the pain as the rope dug into my skin.

Elizabeth was becoming hysterical. I was trying to piece together what she was rambling about.

“It was about seeking revenge. Don’t you understand that we’re rich beyond our wildest dreams? All I need is that fucking evidence. That’s it. I’m not going to kill her. You should have brought the fucking kid like I told you.”

“God, I’m not a monster. That kid isn’t right. You’re a sick fuck.” She managed to jerk away and the second he slapped her face again, sending her against the wall, I used every ounce of strength I had to jerk free from the bindings.

Then I bolted toward the door, able to wrap my hand around the doorknob a split second before Colton noticed.

Then he roared.

I threw the door open, but he snagged my hair, yanking then tossing me aside.

“Not so fast, bitch. Not until you tell me what I need to know.”

Yelping, I struggled to get to my feet. When he advanced, I yanked the lamp from the nightstand, tossing it at him.

He deflected it, smashing it against the wall then shaking his head. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why are you doing this? The money? This was all about the money?”

There was a fire in his eyes that was the same thing I’d seen in my eyes every time I looked in the mirror. “The undercover officer was your family. Your brother.” What he’d shared with me all those years ago had been the truth. Then why wasn’t it disclosed?

Snarling, Colton took a deep breath and I thought for a split second that the memory would pull him out of the ugly need for revenge.

But I was wrong. He laughed.

“You were always a smart girl. If only you’d told me what I’d needed to know back then, none of this would be happening. I’m sorry, Kerri. I never wanted to see you get hurt.” The pain vanished from his eyes, replaced with only the bitter need to finish what he’d started. He pulled out his weapon and terror swept through me.

When he took a step forward, I threw out my hands, launching myself toward him, the weapon flying from his hands in slow motion. “No!”

The sound was deafening, the roar of another man as he burst into the room. And in the next few seconds as Colton managed to grab me around the throat, dragging me in front of him and using me as a shield, I witnessed the kind of anger flashing in Grant’s eyes that sent butterflies into my stomach.

“Hurt her and die, you motherfucker,” Grant hissed as he lifted his weapon, the barrel pointing at Colton’s head.

Colton had his arm wrapped around my neck, pressing his palm against my head. “Back away or I’ll snap her neck. I’ll do it.”

I noticed a second man standing by Grant. Then he moved further into the room, keeping his weapon pointed at Elizabeth.

“No, you won’t, Colton. I’m a damn good shot.”

“Maybe so, but I’ll manage to break her neck before I fall.”

Panting, I could tell Grant was prepared to fire.

“Back off, buddy. He’s not going anywhere,” the other man said.

Grant took a step forward and Colton added additional pressure, daring the love of my life to tempt him. When Grant smiled, locking eyes with mine, I could feel the electricity we shared bridging an even stronger connection.

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